If I Could Translate Grasshopper into English
“Do you think that photographer notices us? Finally? We’ve been hanging out here at Pasture and Oak, waiting to be discovered, for hours!”
“Oh good, she has definitely noticed us. She’s coming closer…”
“…closer…”
“Not everybody can carry off this blend of speckles, spots, spikes, and braids.”
“Have you noticed my lacy wing patterns?”
“Look deep into my striped eyes. You will make me famous….you will make me famous…..”
“Wait! What are you doing? This is more than I bargained for!”
“I look much better in profile! I don’t want full-face close-ups! Put me down. This is my stern face.”
Of course I did release this grasshopper as soon as I had some good pictures. She was ID’d for me at BugGuide.net as an American Bird Grasshopper, Schistocerca americana, part of the Cyrtacanthacridinae family.
Sometimes I have seen something the size of a hummingbird flying straight across the yard for a long distance, with creamy wings fluttering. At first i will think it is a bird or moth, but then I realize it is one of these.
Wow! You did get close! This is so much fun and the photos are amazing!
Thank you, the light was so perfect that day, and it caught every nuance in the grasshopper. It was easy to imagine what their thoughts might be.
Nicely done. I hope you didn’t make it too mad. It might gather friends and attack you by the hordes someday. Keep an eye and ear out.
Hmm, I should have considered becoming an evil overlord in its world and summoning those hordes to do my nefarious bidding.
Thank you for giving me a chance to use the word “nefarious” in a comment!
Wonderful series of photos!
Thank you! Every now and then they come out nice and sharp.
You do real good! Great pictures!